Applications are judged on several factors, including but not limited to high school record, scores on national tests, academic record at college or university level, and trend of grades. High school transcripts and ACT scores are required. Equivalent SAT scores may be substituted.

Minimum Academic Standards for Admission

To be considered for admission to the School of Engineering, beginning first-year students must meet or exceed the following minimum standards:

These minimum admission standards apply to all departments. Meeting
minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Transfer Admission Standards

Applications from all transfer students, whether from other
institutions or from other KU units, are evaluated on a case-by-case
basis. In general, students with grade-point averages under 2.5 are not
considered. Students must submit mathematics ACT or SAT scores or proof
of competence in calculus (grade of C or higher). No upper-level
engineering credits from non-ABET-accredited engineering programs are
acceptable as transfer credit for engineering programs. Admission is
selective, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee
admission.

Graduate Admission to the School of Engineering

Procedure

Admission requirements for the School of Engineering follow the general KU requirements plus those of each engineering graduate program. All applicants must apply online. Detailed information about supplemental application materials for each program is listed here. Important information for prospective international students is available from International Student & Scholar Services. Download a PDF for more information about the review process for graduate applications.

Some departments and programs require the Graduate Record Examination. Applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee. See Admission in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.

Baccalaureate Preparation

To qualify for graduate work in any field of engineering, a student generally must hold an accredited baccalaureate degree in that field and have at least a 3.0 grade-point average. A student with good preparation in such fields as mathematics, chemistry, or physics, or in a related engineering field, may be admitted on the basis of performance in specific undergraduate courses, determined by the department of interest to the prospective student. Undergraduate hours do not count as part of a student’s Plan of Study, but they must be completed with grades of B or higher.

Exceptionally qualified undergraduates may be admitted directly to a Fast-Track Ph.D. program, which does not require the master’s as an intermediate degree. Students who wish to earn a Ph.D. and believe that they meet this criterion are encouraged to contact the graduate adviser in their field of interest.

English Proficiency Requirement

All graduate students in the School of Engineering who are required to take courses at the Applied English Center must pass the AEC’s English Proficiency Examination within 3 semesters of their initial enrollment. Failure to complete the English proficiency requirement within this time limit may result in dismissal from the graduate engineering program.